"Me, a May 18 Bereaved Family Member, Called Ilbe?"... Harim Criticizes Paekjae High School Condolence Wreaths as "Comedy"

Singer Harim Criticizes "Wicked Acts Done with Flowers"

"'Who do you think you are?'—Branded as Both 'Ilbe' and 'Leftist'"

"Says Anyone Has the Right to Speak Out as a Human Being"

Singer Harim described as "comedy" the situation in which he faced simultaneous criticism from both sides—being labeled as "Ilbe" and "leftist"—after he publicly criticized the condolence wreaths placed in front of Paekjae High School amid the controversy over the school's baseball team allegedly mocking the May 18 Gwangju Democratization Movement.

Singer Harim. Instagram

Previously, on July 6, Harim posted a message on his social networking service (SNS) titled "Wicked Acts Done with Flowers." He wrote, "At some point, a bizarre culture developed where political attacks are made using condolence wreaths," adding, "It's a malicious attempt to ruin the recipient's mood by evoking death." He continued, "You cannot find any joy or vitality that flowers usually bring in the wreaths lined up along the roadside. It is simply 'waste of flowers' created by wicked habits," stressing, "Flowers are not meant to be used to strike someone."

As this post spread across various news articles over two days, Harim reportedly received a flood of messages questioning his right to speak, with messages like, "Who do you think you are?" In response, on July 8, Harim posted again on SNS, saying, "A strange circus has unfolded over one of my posts," and added, "As a bereaved family member of May 18, some call me 'Ilbe' while others simultaneously accuse me of being a 'leftist'." He went on, "Thus, I have become both a May 18 bereaved family member and Ilbe in their eyes. It truly is comedy."

Harim revealed that his maternal uncle suffered after being beaten by soldiers during the May 18 period and passed away from lifelong aftereffects. He said, "You don't need an impressive title to care about hatred in the streets or to mourn those who have fallen," explaining, "I'm not speaking out because of who I am, but because it's an obvious right that anyone, simply as a human being, should have." He added, "As a citizen, the freedom to place my small weight on the scales among those who are judging, and as an artist, it is my duty."

On the afternoon of the 6th, students from Paejae High School and Gwangju Jeil High School are paying their respects at the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery in Buk-gu, Gwangju Metropolitan City, Jeollanam-do. Photo by Yonhap News

This controversy began at the 81st Blue Dragon Flag National High School Baseball Championship held at Mokdong Stadium in Seoul on June 29. At that time, some members of Paekjae High School’s baseball team chanted "Let's go to Starbucks" toward their opponents, Gwangju Jeil High School. This chant reminded many of last month's so-called "5·18 Tank Day" event controversy at Starbucks, spreading accusations of mocking and disparaging the May 18 Democratization Movement. In response, condolence wreaths criticizing the baseball team were placed in front of Paekjae High School but were all removed on the evening of July 2 following numerous civil complaints about obstruction of passage.

Meanwhile, the Korea Baseball Softball Association imposed a six-month ban from national tournaments on the Paekjae High School baseball team on July 1, and their results from the tournament were forfeited. On July 6, the Paekjae High School team visited Gwangju Jeil High School to apologize and then paid their respects at the National May 18th Democratic Cemetery. At the time, Lee Guyoun, principal of Gwangju Jeil High School, told Paekjae students, "Lift your heads. Stand tall; your futures are not over yet," as he accepted their apology.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.